Fergie: We have no divine right to win

Manchester United’s legion of fans used to take their seats at Old Trafford awaiting the kind of ritual slaughter which used to be enjoyed in Roman times.

Over the past 12 months the lions have been mauled on too many occasions and on last night’s evidence there are worrying signs the Christians’ revolt is not over yet.

At just 19, Kevin Nolan’s history lessons should still be fresh in his mind, but in order to find the last time Bolton last scored successive triumphs over United on their own patch, he nearly has to trawl back to when Julius Caesar was a lad.

It was actually 1935, but not many visiting supporters will have been alive to savour it.

Last term, Ferguson’s men suffered the sinking feeling six times on their own patch. It has taken just three games for their unbeaten record to go this time round.

Having sent his team into the new campaign with a stark warning – “losing home games costs league titles” – suffering the bitter taste of defeat so quickly must hurt the Scot pretty badly.

“We have no divine right to think we can walk over teams,” said Ferguson.

“The manner we lost was particularly disappointing but when your opponents work as hard as that, you can’t deny them victory.”

David Beckham bravely apologised for the late blunder which handed Nolan the chance to seal victory but Ferguson knows the problems run much deeper.

With Roy Keane and Paul Scholes absent and despite Beckham’s best endeavours, United are not creating enough chances.

Those which are being fashioned tend to be spurned and Ferguson’s failure to land a fourth striker during the summer could come back to haunt him unless his misfiring front-men find their form.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has found the net just once in open play since March in the Premiership and crashed United’s best chance off the crossbar after Juan Sebastian Veron had played him through.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not look as effective starting games as when he comes off the bench, while Diego Forlan’s goalless streak has now stretched to 25 matches, admittedly most as substitute.

“Our play in the final third meant we didn’t deserve to win,” admitted Phil Neville.

“Chances have been few and far between in our home games this season. We created a few more last night but against teams like Bolton you have to get that crucial goal.

“We said before the season started that we had to eradicate results like this. When Bolton beat us 12 months ago, it was a sign of things to come. We cannot allow that to happen again.”

Last year Ferguson at least had the consolation of knowing Bolton had taken advantage of a weakened side as he kept his biggest stars fit for Europe.

There was no such excuse this time around and, following the recent departures of Ronny Johnsen, Denis Irwin, Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, Ferguson is not blessed with too many alternatives.

Gary Neville has an outside chance of being fit to face Leeds on Saturday and his aggressive approach would at least bring some fire back into the United camp.

In Keane’s absence, there is no on-pitch warrior. Beckham is starting to hit top form, but with those around him performing poorly, the task is too great.

The one slice of good fortune is that no side, Arsenal included, are stringing a sequence of wins together.

“We have played worse and won,” said Ferguson. “It would have been 0-0 at worst but we lost our concentration for a brief moment near the end.

“It was a disappointing result and you don’t want to lose at home, but it is an indication of how the league is going this season.

“No-one is winning games by handsome margins because the fear of falling out of the league is making every team play with a great deal of determination.

“At the start of the season, people were saying West Brom would be relegated. Are they still saying it now?”